Fruit and vegetables may not be first choice on the menu for most youngsters but one school has seen its pupils battling it out for the healthiest options.

Children at Archibald Primary School in Middlesbrough have been turning healthy lunches into prizes by earning tokens for making good food choices.

More than 300 pupils have been opting for healthy school meals or packed lunches in return for tokens to try to win a prize for their class. Healthy options on the school menu, such as fruit and brown bread, were highlighted to encourage children to choose foods that would earn them the most tokens.

Tracy Cameron, school nurse assistant from Middlesbrough Primary Care Trust, which funded the scheme, said: "The children have been very enthusiastic about trying the healthy foods."